The Mac Mini

The MakerBot

Turn on the MakerBot motherboard (small black slider switch on the largest side board)

Preparing to Print

Launch ReplicatorG

This is your main point of interaction with the MakerBot.

Open Your Model

Pick File - Open...

Click the Scale button to view the scale operations. If your model is much larger or much smaller than expected. STL is unit-less and some programs export in 1 unit = 1 inch instead of the expected 1 unit = 1 mm.

Click the Move button to view the object reposition operations.

Click Center to position the object at Z=0 on the build platform.

Click Generate GCode

Pick a printing profile: artengine-abs-0908

Enable the Use raft checkbox.

Click Ok

Warm Up the Extruder

Pick Machine - Control Panel

Set the Target Temperature to 220.0

Click outside the field to engage the heater. You should see the blue line jump to 220C and the red line start to rise.

Wait until the Current Temperature reaches the target temperature.

Set the Motor Speed (PWM) to 255.

Click the Motor Control - forward button. The extruder motor should start to turn.

Cut the filament flat with the cross-cutters and feed the filament into the top of the extruder.

When the small noodle of extruded plastic starts to come out fast (not just oozing out), click Motor Control - stop